Combined spreading and scraping mechanism for distillation apparatus



Jan. i 12 192.6. 1,569,478

w. M. GRANT COMBINED SPREADING ma scnAPmG AmoHANIsM FOR DISTILLATION APPARATUS Filed Nov. a 192:5 2 sheets-sheet 1 IN V EN A TTORNE YS l w l l l l 11111111. '11111 Jan. -12 1926.

wf. M. GRANT COMBINED SPREADING AND SCRAPING MECHANISM FOR DISTILLATION APPARATUS 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Nov. 8

m BY

IN VEN TOR .f A TTORNE YS FM i Patented Jan. 12, 1926. UNITED 1,569,478k iPTEl-Nf QF?? Coatrav-s2aee1rserv essere@ Massenet aisee-#slee Applicativi fledqvelvnber SL19?? rjel Naae To all whom t may Concern; Y Be it known that I, WHEADON M AGRANT, a citizen of the .United States, a resident of Birmingham, inthe county o t Jederson'and State ot'rlabama, have invented al certain new and usetulVK Combined -VSpreading and Scraping Mechanism for Distillation 'Apparatus, et which the 'following' is aspecication.

This invention relates to vimprovements in the coke ovenlor retort art,`particularly de- Asignedtor the` distillation of coal, shale, and

other material, toiproduce light oils, coke,l

and the other by-products, and the apparatus forming the subject of Ithis inventionris designed to carry out the process disclosed in .a copending application tor .pate-'nt ,on processor' dist-illing coal, shale, and the like, 'tiled by ClarencefS. Lomax ,andWheadon MfGranhniiled the '19th day of September, 1923,1SerialNo. 663,551. y

4I nthat process the coal, shale, ory other materialA to be distilled is spread in a thin and even layer upon the heated ybottom plate or plates Voa coke oven or retort, so ythat it is immediately raised in temperature Ato a point at or above that at which simultaneous distillation andcraclringoccur, which results in most efficient production of light oils.

rlfhisinvention relates to vthe apparatus 'for Aspreading 'the' material to be distilled in 4a thinseven layer uponl the hot Vbottom plate or, plates of the voven or retort andat the same time scraping up and discharging |the previous 4layer ot material ujhiclrhas been subjected to the process.

vrThe principal object of the inventionis a mechanism including a .suitable feed boxor hopper adapted to Acontain a proper quantity or charge oi material and having a movable scraping plate located .ein the front .thereot' and a movable levelingor smoothing plate in the rear thereof. thelatterplatebe ing' -arranged so that normally its lower edge is spaced ashort distance from thehotbottom plate oftheovenor retort, this space depending upon the depth of the layer of material desired. Mechanism is provided forv movingvsaid feed boi; or hopper and atv.tached plates through the oven'. and in V so doing the Afront plate scrapes upthe treated layer et material and the rear plate smootlis ott' and levels the new charge of 1 naterial which iswdischarged lfrom the .t'eed lb oxnor tem r-ifo ,Plates ,i4-'Off lll@ breil .0r retort. It iS' ,llponthsserplates that the materiel t0 nested therewith so Vas,to' 1e` edf material i in hop-per in its travel through the ,oven At the end oft-his'Y "inovement'the Inechanism'f-is -izevei'jfsed' to Ldraw the feedllbox or hopper back to its -in-itia'l 4or starting psitio1`i`bt before this retulrninove'r-ient'is starfted', both ofsaid S30 plates,ffthat Ilis, the front plate andthe plate, a'rxli-fted sofas not'to interfere Vivith or' disturb the layer otmaterial -ju'st discharged upon' thebotto'm ofthe oven or retom In order to -accomp'lishthese major purposes',`-the` invention also includesyarius improvements in details'of `'constructionand arrangement, whereby a simpleand 'effective mechanism of this character :is prQvided. Y 70 To theV accomplishment of the foregoing and such other'objects lmay herein'ajterappear, this invention consists in the construction, combination, and 'arrangement of parts hereinafter desc'ril'oe'dV andlthen sought to he defined in fthe appended "clainis,"refcreif1ce Yheingfhad ,to the accompanying drawings vepresents a vertical, longitudinalI cross se'ctionthrough theffrontlorfcharg- Qing"v part of a fcoke,oveii-'or retort, 'with the apparatus of this invention shown near 'its' initial 'or starting" position preparatory "to starting `its frward orf 'scraping and spreading movement, siiflicient of thecole oven being indicated to 'malte aproper disclosure.

'Figure 2 isan end elevation ofthe appara- Vtus shownin Figure l, looking from and in Atliedirectio'n ofthe arrow?, of Figure 1. Figure '3 is top plan view of the combined "spreading andscraping apparatus, this VView 'being taken substantially along line 3 3 'I'Figure/Q. e i

In the structure illustrated in the drawingsja cokeoven or'retortjpioper 1 has suit- Yable(heatingtlues 2 Whiclrpreferably heat a leadvbath 3 onuwhich rest a phirality of bot- 105 be treated -is discharged. Af'material inlet fvis rshotvn at the charging end-ofthewoven and a. feeding mechan'kismislpreferably qon- 1] u measured quantities; this feeding mechanism forms no part of this invention. Casing 6 extends out from the front of the oven or retort to provide for complete withdrawal and removal of the combined spreader and scraping mechanism from the oven and to properly support it and its operating mechanism. The side walls of the oven and of this casing 6 are provided with longitudinally arranged guideways T, which guideways eX- tend the full length of the oven.

A combined spreading and scraping mechanism takes the placeof the usual ram or other discharge mechanism used in oonnection with coke ovens for the purpose of discharging the colte therefrom and it has an elongated operating bar 8 which is provided with a rack underneath t-he same in mesh with a driving gear or pinion 9. Suitable mechanism is provided for driving the pinion 9 and the bar 8 in either direction at the will of theoperator.

The combined spreading and scraping mechanism itself includes a hopper or box 10 which is of substantial rectangular shape having a front wall 11 and a rear wall 12 and side or end walls 13. The box itself is less in width than the full width of the oven and is supported above the bottom thereof by means of wheels or rollers 1a suitably connected thereto and fitting within guideways 'i' in the sides of the oven. lin other words, there is a space between the bottom of the box 10 and the bottom plates of the oven or retort and there is also a space between the side walls of the oven and the side or end walls13 of the box 10.

A front or scraping plate 15 is mounted for vertical movement between a stationary7 plate 16, which is fastened to the front wall 11, and anoffset part 17 ofsaid front wall 11, as clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. In other words, the oiiset part 17 of the front wall 11 is spaced .from the stationary plate 16 and provides a space to slidably receive the front or scraping plate 15. rIhe stationary plate 1G extends the full width of the oven and therefore will scrape the sides of the oven and assist in guiding the device in its passage through the oven. rlhe lower edge 1S of the stationary plate 1G is spaced from the bottom plate 4- and on each side thereof is provided a laterally extending lug 19, which lugs correspond to lugs 20 extending laterally from each side of the side or end plates 13 of the box 10. Between each of these opposed pairs of lugs 19 and 2O is positioned a ller block 21, whereby a solid guiding wing or lug is provided which extends within each guideway 7 of the oven and assists in guidingl the apparatus in its movement and also operatesto keep these guideways clean and clear of coke or other substances.

A rear and spreading plate 22 is supported for vertical movement between the rear wall 12 of box 10 and an offset stationary plate 23, which is secured to said rear wall 12 and provides a guideway to slidably receive said rear or spreading plate. Lugs 2a and 25 and filler block 26, corresponding to lugs 19 and 2O and filler block 2l, are provided in connection with the rear wall 12 and its stationary plate 23 and form a rear wing or lug on each side of the box or hopper 10 fitting Within the guideways in the walls of the oven. ln addition to the other :functions specified for these guiding wings or lugs, they also serve to hold the front and scraping plate and the rear and spreading plate in proper position and prevent lateral` displacementof the same; ylhe rear plate 22 is normally maintained a slight distance above the bottoni plates 4C of the oven so as to spread and smooth the material in the form of a thin layer thereover, and this plate is therefore limited in its downward movement by means of the engagement of a stop 2T which engages the laterally extending wing or lug just described.

rlhe two plates 15 and 22 are adapted to be raised and lowered by the operation of the operating bar 8 and the parts are therefore connected in the following manner to accomplish this rresult. Shaft 2S is suitably mounted in brackets 29 which are secured to and extend from the rear wall 12 of the box. Links 30 are pivotally connected to said shaft 2S and spaced apart to receive head 31 of the operating bar 8. rlhe head 31 is provided with an aperture to receive a pin or stud shaft 32 which pivotally connects the head 31 to the links 80, whereby the weight of the operating bar and its head is supported. rlhe engaging end 33 of the head 31 extends toward the upper part of the rear offsetplate 23 and is normally spaced therefrom, as indicated in Figure 1, but when the operating bar S is moved to the left as in Figure 1, it will swing on the shaft 28 as a pivot, and after a movement sutiicient .for the designed purposes hereinafter (lesci'il. ed, will engage the upper part of thc rear offset plate 2?) and directly push the box or hopper 10 and its attached mechanism through the oven.

rt shaft is loosely mounted in said head of the operating bar S and extends transversely of the apparatus and has an operatingI bar 35 secured to each end thereof, these operating bars being` positioned on the outside of the side or end walls 13 of the box or hopper 10. The forward end of each bar 535 is pivotally connected to a bell crank 36 which is pivoted` as at 3T, to the outside of the side or end wall 1?) of the box or hopper 10, the lower end of the bell crank lever 3G being pivotallv connected to a link 38, which is in turn pivotally connected to the front plate or scraping member 15. A similar bell crank lever 39 is pivotally connected to each bar 35 near the rear end thereof, said bell cranl; 39 being pivoted, as at 40, to a bracket or other suitable supporting means 4l extending rearwardly from the box or hopper lO and having its lower end pivotally connected to linl; 42, which in turn is pivotally connected to the rear or spreading plate 22. On the outside of each of the :side or end walls 13 I provide a stop 'or abutment V43 located slightly in the rear Tof the bell crank lever 36 so as to limit the rearward or pulling movement of the same. The purpose of this will appear later.

The forward wheels 14 forsupporting the boi; or hopper are preferably mounted on a shaft 14 which extends through the hopper Yand Vturns with the wheels so as t-o provide a means for disturbing or stirring the material in the boxk or hopper, and the rear wheels 14 are suitably mounted upon the rearwardly extending brackets 29'.

In operation, the device is normally in the position sho-wn yin Figure 1 and immediately after its forward move-ment begins a suitable icharge of material is 'discharged into the box or hopper. The application of power to bar 8 =results ina slight swing on shaft 28 as a pivot .and forces the. ybars 35 forward and the plates l5 and 22 downward to the limit.

of their downward motion. At this time vthe front end 33 of the head 3l ofthe bar `engages .the rear `offset plate 23 which takes up the stress of operation from then on during the. forward movement of the apparatus. The front p'latelo scrapes up the material lfrom the bottom 4of the oven lin its passage `therealon'g and eventually will discharge said material from the coke side of the oven.

.During` this movement the rear vplate 22 is tlie operating bars 25 and the lifting ofthe front plate lV and the rear platef22. lVhen these plates 'have been sufficiently lift-ed to avoid contact with any of the material which has just 4been placed upon the bottom plates Aof the oven, thebell crank lever 36 engages the stop or abutn'ient 32, preventing a further lifting movement and establishing a connection between the operating bar 8 and the boi; or hopper l0, whereby the latter is moved backward through the oven to its initial or starting position. During all of this movement the plates l5 and 22 are 4lifted so that the layer of material is not disturbed in any particular.

Referring again to the casing 6, attention is called tothe fact that it provides means whereby the feeding hopper may be entirely withdrawn from the oven or retort for examination, repair, and other purposes and to that end this casing is provided with a pair of opposed flanges 6 withsuitable filling means interposed therebetween, so

that when it is desired to withdraw thev said hopper f-rom one end of the retort or -oven to Vthe other and return, and means associa-ted with the hopper for leveling and smoothing the charge of materialas it is fed in the form of an even layer during the feeding movement of the hopper.

2. `In conibination with a retort vor oven, a

including a feeding hopper adapted to receive a charge of material and to feed the same along the bottom heating surface of the retort or oven, means for moving said hopper from one end of the retort or oven tothe other and return, means associated with the hopper for rleveling and smoothing the charge of material as it is fed in the form of an even layer during the feeding movement of the hopper, and means associated with the 'hopper vfor scraping the material of the previously treated layer from the bottom of the retort or oven as the next succeeding laye-r is being fed thereon.

3. In combination' with a retort or oven, a combined feeding and scraping mechanism, including a feeding hopper adapted to receive a charge of material and to feed the same along .the bottom heating surface of the retort or oven, means for moving said hopper from one end of the retort or oven to the other and return, means associated with the hopper for leveling and smoothing the charge of material in the form ,of an even layer as itis fed, means associated with the hopper for scraping the material ,ofthe previously treated layer from the bottom of theretort or oven as the next succeeding '111.

layer is being fed thereon, and means for raising said smoothing means on the return vtrip of the hopper.

4. In `combination with a retort `or oven, a `combined feeding and scraping, mech- ,combined feeding and scraping mechanism ios reo

anism, including a feeding hopper adapted to receivL a charge of material and to feed the same along the bottom heating surface of the ret or oven, means for moving said hopper from one end of the retort or oven to ihe other and return, means associated with the hopper for leveling and smoothing the cha e of material as it is fed in the forni of an even layer during the feeding movement of the hopper', means associated with the hopper for scraping the material of the previously treated layer from the bot tom of the reto rt or oven as the next succeeding laver being fed thereon, and means for ra ig said scraping means on the return trip of the hopper.

ln crmibination with a retort or oven, u combined feeding and scraping mechincluding a feeding hopper adapted eive a charge of material and to feed the saine along the bottom heating surface of the retort or oven, means for moving said hopper from one end of the retort or oven to the other and return, means associated with the hopper for leveling and smoothing the charge of material in the form of an even layer as it is fed, means associated with the hopper for scraping the material of the previously treated layer from the bottom of the retort or oven as the next succeeding layer is being fed thereon, and means for raising said smoothing means and said scraping means on the return trip of the hopper.

G. in combination with a retort or oven, a :oinbined feeding and scraping meehanism, including a feeding hopper adapted to receive a charge of material and to feed the same along the bottom heating surface of the retort or oven, means for moving said hopper from one end of the retort or oven to the other and return, means associated vith the hopper for leveling and smoothing the charge of material in the form of an even layer as it is fed, means associated with the hopper for scraping the material of thev previouslyvv treated layer from the bottom of the retort or oven as the next succeeding layer is being fed thereon, said smoothing means and said scraping means being operatively connected together, means for forcing the downward upon the forward and feeding` movement of the hopper and means for lifting them during the return movement of the hopper.

7. An apparatus of the character described, including, in combination, a feeding hopper, a front scraping plate slidably mounted and associated with said hopper, a rear leveling and smoothing plate slidably mounted and associated with said hopper.

8. An apparatus of the character described, including, in combination, a feeding hopper, a front scraping plate slidably mounted and associated with said hopper, a

rear levelii i' and smoothing plate slidably i; ,i urteil and associated with said hopper, said last mentioned plate being maintained a. different level from the first mentioned plaie during the feeding movement so as to spread the material fed in the form of an even layer.

9. An apparatus of the character described, including, in combination, a feeding hopper, a front scrapingV plate slidably mounted and associated with said hopper, a rear leveling and smoothing plate slidably mounted and associated with said hopper, saitL two plates being operatively connected together, means for moving said hoppery forwardly for feeding and returning the same to its initial position, same moving means also having operative connection with said two plates whereby said two plates will be held downward during the feeding movement and will be held lifted during the return movement.

li). An apparatus of the character described, including, in combination, a hopper adapted to be moved for feeding, means for movingr said hopper and returning the same to its initial position, a front scraping plate slidably mounted and associated with said hopper, a rear leveling and smoothing plate slidably mounted and associated with said hopper, and connections between said two plates and said moving means whereby the plates will be forced and held downwardly during the feeding movement of the hopper and lifted and held in raised position during the return movement of the hopper.

ll. An apparatus of the character described, including, in combination, a hopper adapted to be moved for feeding, means for moving said hopper and returning the saine to its initial position, a front scraping plate slidably mounted and associated with said hopper, a rear leveling and smoothing plate slidably mounted and associated with said hopper, said two plates being operatively connected whereby they move together and also. having operative connection with said moving means whereby the plates will be forced and held downwardly during the feeding movement of the hopper and lifted and held :in raise-d position during the return movement of the hopper.

l2. An apparatus of the character described, including, in combination, a feeding hopper, a front scraping plate slidably mounted and associated therewith, a rear leveling and smoothing plate slidably mounted and associated therewith, moving means for moving said hopper for feeding and returning the same to its initial position and connections between said plates ,and said moving means, said connections each including a bell-crank lever whereby the plates will be forced downwardly during the initial stages of the feeding movement and forced upwardly during the initial stages of the return movement. Y l 13. An apparatus of the character described, including, in combination, ahopper,

` a scraping means associated with the hopper,

a'smoothmg and leveling means associated vwith the hopper, said scraping means andP saidy smoothingl and leveling means having operative connections with said moving means arranged so that at the beginning of the feeding movement said scraping means and smootliin'g and leveling' means will be moved to jan operativel position before movement of the hopper and so that said scraping means and said smoothing and leveling means willbe movedv to an inoperative position at the beginning of the return movement of the moving means and before the beginning of the return movement of they hopper.

14. An apparatus of the character described, including, in combination, a hopper, a moving means therefor having a loose connection therewith whereby the moving means has a limited independent movement relative to the hopper both at the beginning of its feeding movement and at the beginning o-f its return movement., a scraping plate slidably mounted on said hopper, a smoothing and leveling plate slidably mounted on said hopper, link connections between said two plates and said moving means whereby at the beginning of the feeding movement of the moving means said two plates will be forced downwardly to the limit of their downward movement and the moving means will then operatively engage the hopper to move the same for feeding, said connections also causing the raising of the two plates at the beginning of the return movement before the moving means starts the return movement of the hopper.

15. An apparatus of the character described, including, in combination, a hopper adapted to be moved for feeding, means for moving said hopper and returning the same to its initial position, a front scraping plate slidably mounted and associated with said hopper, a rear leveling and smoothing plate slidably mounted and associated with said hopper, connections between said two plates and said moving means whereby the plates will be forced and held downwardly during the feeding movement of the hopper and lifted and held in raised positionduringthe return movement of the hopper, and means for limiting the downward movement of said leveling and smoothing plate whereby the same will be held a slight distance above the surface over which the hopper travels.

16. An apparatus of the character kdescribed, including, in combination, a feeding hopper, a front scraping plate slidably mounted and associated therewith, a rear leveling and smoothing plate slidably mounted and associated therewith, moving means for moving said hopper for feeding and returning the same to its initial position and connections'between said plates and said moving means, saidconnections each including a bell-crank lever whereby the plates will be forced downwardly during the initial stages of the feeding movement and forced upwardly during the initial stages of the return movement, and an abutment on said hopper adapted to be engaged by said bellcrank lever to limit the movement of the same.

1T. An apparatus of the character described, including, in combination, va hopper, a moving means therefor' having a loose connection therewith whereby the moving means has a. limited independent movement relative to the hopper both at the beginning of its feeding movement and at the beginning of its return movement, a scraping plate slidably mounted onsaid hopper, a smoothing and leveling plate slidably mounted on said hopper, link connections between said two plates and said moving means whereby at the beginning of the feeding movement of the moving means said two plates will be forced downwardly to the limit of their downward movement and the moving means will then operatively engage the hopper to move the same for feeding, said connections also causing the raising of the two plates at the beginning of the return movement before the moving means starts the return movement of the hopper, and means for limiting the rearward movement of said link connections after the raising of the two plates at the beginning of the .return movement of the moving means.

18. In combination with a retort or oven i having a bottom heating surface and a plurality of guideways formed in the sidesl thereof, a. feeding hopper adapted to receive a charge? of material, roller means for supportingl said hopper for movement through said retort or oven, said roller means being positioned in said guideways, moving means for moving said hopper from one end of the said retort or oven to the other and return, means associated with the hopper for scraping up a layer of material from the bottom heating surface of the oven and discharging the same therefrom, and other means associated with the hopper for leveling and smoothingV ythe charge of material in the form of an even layer as it is fed. i

19. In combination with a vretort or oven having a bottom heating surface and a plurality of guideways formed in the sides thereof7 a feeding hopper adapted to receive a charge of material, roller means for supporting said hopper for movement through said retort or oven, said roller means being positioned in said guideivays, moving means for moving said hopper from one end of the said retort or oven to the other and return7 means associated With the hopper for scraping up a layer of material from the bottom heating surface of the oven and discharging the same therefrom7 other means associated with the hopper for leveling and smoothing the charge of material in the form of an even layer as it is fed and additional scraping means provided on each side of said hopper adapted to remove the material from said guideivays during the travel of the hopper through the retort or oven.

20. In combination with a retort or oven, a casing connected to the charging end .df the same and extending outwardly therefrom, said casing being so constructed that a partition m ay be interposed therein to enclose part of the casing and separate it from communication v-.rith said oven or retort, a combined feeding hopper and discharge mechanism mounted in said ovenor retort and having means for scraping up and discharging from the retort a previously treated layer of material and also having means for leveling and smoothing a layer of material to be treated during the feeding movement of the hopper, moving means for Inoving said hopper for feeding and returning same to its initial position, said retort or oven and said casing having aligned guide- Ways whereby the hopper may be entirely7 withdrawn from said oven into said easing.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of September, 1923.

WHEADON M. GRANT. 

